Tb 2:9-14Tobit: Bird droppings fell into my eyes and blinded me. My wife Anna received a goat as a bonus, but I thought it was stolen, got angry, and told her to return it to its owner. Anna: “Where's your virtue now? Your true colors are showing!”

Ps 112:1-2, 7-9"The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord." Blessed those who fear the Lord. They give to the poor, and their generosity shall endure.

Mk 12:13-17Pharisees and Herodians trying to ensnare Jesus: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar?” / “Bring me a denarius.... Whose image is this?” / “Caesar’s.” / “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were amazed....

Reflect

Creighton: The ones trying to trap Jesus started with flattery, but he saw through them. Some say his response reminds us we belong to God and are responsible for living accordingly. What's my purpose and how might I carry it out pleasing to God?

Denarius from Jesus' time

One Bread One Body: "I won't hurt you": Tobit and Anna got into a big fight. Tobit was blind not only in his eyes but also to Anna's kindness and support. Stung by his inability to support his family, he took it out on her, believing the worst about her while she was working to support the family. Stung by his accusation, she turned a blind eye to Tobit's lifetime of good works and hurt him deeply. Jesus warns us that we'll be held accountable for our words, and that we speak out of the abundance of our hearts; insulted, he returned a blessing. Lord, help me break the cycle of insults, hatred, and hurt.

DailyScripture.net: The Jews resented their foreign rulers and despised paying them taxes. If Jesus answered it was lawful to pay the taxes, he'd lose credibility with the Jews who would regard him as a friend of Caesar; if he said no, the Pharisees could report him to Roman authorities and have him arrested. Jesus avoided their trap by confronting them with the coin itself.

Deeper meaning: We've been created in / stamped with God's image and belong to God who created and redeemed us. Paul says we're to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Do I live as if I belong to God and give God what's rightfully his?

"Lord, because you made me, I owe you all my love; because you redeemed me, I owe you my self; because you promised so much, I owe you all my being. I owe you more love than myself as you're greater and gave yourself. Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my self but have no more, and by myself I can't render it to you. Draw me to you in love. I'm yours by creation; make me yours too in love." (St. Anselm)